Staff WriterThe first day of LIV Golf Promotions in Florida had the feel of a job interview where the carpet is cut like a billiard table and the rejection email is already drafted. And Richard T. Lee, to his credit, turned up in a pressed suit and started signing paperwork in birdies—surging to the top of the leaderboard with a spotless six-under-par 64 as a strong Asian Tour contingent muscled its way into Round 2.
Lee, the 2024 BNI Indonesian Masters champion, was the sharpest blade in a field that knows this is not a normal week of professional golf. This is an elimination-format scrap where the margin for error is thin, the consequences are loud, and the top 20 after Round 1 earn the right to keep breathing competitively into the next day.
The numbers told one story—bogey-free, outright lead, comfortable progress—but the context told the real one: this course demanded manners off the tee and respect into the greens. Lee gave it both. On a layout that rewarded precision and punished impatience, he leaned on solid ball-striking and a putter that decided, late in the day, to become a best friend.
“It’s a tough course,” he said. “You really have to drive it well, and the greens are very undulated. I found a lot of fairways, placed my ball in good positions on the greens, and managed to hole a few putts.”
Four of Lee’s birdies arrived in his closing six holes—always a nice time to find your rhythm, like discovering you’ve packed your passport while already in the airport queue. The spark, by his own telling, was the putter finally warming to its task.
“My putting definitely came together late,” he explained. “I wasn’t hitting it super close all day, but I made some key putts — 10- to 15-footers, and one around 30 feet. Those putts were right in the middle, which felt great.”
If a first-round lead offers comfort, LIV Golf Promotions doesn’t allow much lounging. Scores reset ahead of Round 2, which is the sporting equivalent of being told your excellent exam results were merely a practice paper. Lee knows the rules of the room and the temperament required.
“It’s only the first round,” he said. “Finishing first always feels good, but everything resets tomorrow. The focus is the same, hit fairways, place the ball on the right side of the greens, and let good golf take care of itself.”
Thai challengers crowd the chase as the pressure rises
Two shots back, Asian Tour winners Sadom Kaewkanjana and Suteepat Prateeptienchai led the pursuit, each signing for four-under-par 66 to underline a point that’s been building for a while: Asia’s pipeline is not a side note—it’s a storyline.
Sadom, a former LIV Golf League player, looked like someone who understands both the opportunity and the trapdoors. His round was built on discipline and clean execution, with little drama and plenty of control.
“I played very solid today,” said the Thai star. “I hit 16 greens in regulation and everything felt good overall. The game plan worked well, so I’m just looking to keep that going tomorrow.”
For Sadom, competing in the United States is still something you feel in your chest, not just on your schedule. It is rare enough to be motivating—and meaningful enough to sharpen focus.
“I’m really excited to be playing in the U.S. because most of my golf has been in Asia,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me, so I tried to bring good energy out there today.”
He knows what LIV looks like from the inside, having featured during the League’s inaugural season in 2022. And if there’s one thing that experience tends to do, it is remove the mystery while keeping the hunger.
“LIV Golf is the biggest golf league in the world and has so many great players,” he said. “Playing in 2022 gave me amazing experience competing alongside the best, and that really motivates me to try and get back again.”
Thailand’s presence near the top was no accident, either. The conditions—hot, humid, and sticky with consequence—felt familiar, and familiarity is a competitive advantage when the format is designed to rattle you.
“The grass and the weather are very similar to Thailand — it’s hot and humid, so we don’t need much adjustment,” he explained.
And if Round 1 rewarded a bold putt here and there, Round 2 tends to reward restraint. Sadom’s checklist is simple, and it sounds like a man who has been burned before and learned the useful lesson.
“I want to hit more fairways,” Sadom added. “Tomorrow the course will be tougher, so that will be very important.”
Round 2 field set as Asian Tour influence shows again
Behind the leading trio, a substantial group of Asian Tour and International Series players advanced to Round 2, reinforcing how often the global game now routes through these circuits before it shows up on the biggest stages. Joining Lee, Sadom and Suteepat were Hongtaek Kim (66), Austen Truslow (67), Dominic Foos (67), Sarit Suwannarut (67), Travis Smyth (68), Poom Saksansin (68), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (69) and Tomoyo Ikemura (69).
Now comes the part LIV Golf Promotions was built for: the reset, the squeeze, the moment when yesterday’s scorecard becomes a souvenir and nothing more. Lee has the lead, Sadom has momentum, and everyone left has the same problem—there are fewer places to stand tomorrow than there were today.
